Kindness throughout the holidays

I don't know about you, but I haven't done much writing—or revising—since the end of NaNoWriMo. Oh, I'll get to it, but right now, there's a bit too much "holiday" excitement happening. Which makes it hard to focus on writing, or school, or...pretty much anything.

Take this weekend, for instance. Mom and I are going shopping for Christmas presents—with a quick stop to visit Santa. (Have to get my list in!) Shopping with Mom is fun, but it can also be stressful. It's crowded in the malls, and kind of loud.

Sometimes it's easy to forget "kindness" when you're jostling for position in a long line, trudging through snow or slipping across ice. Sure, Christmas has holiday lights, hot chocolate, and family gathered around the table—but it also comes with some stresses.

So this year—again—I'm making a list...of ways I can spread KINDNESS this season. Little things *I* can do to make it easier on someone else—my family, my friends, even strangers. The world needs kindness. And we can all do our part. Right?

Here are a few ideas I had:

• Bake cookies (with Grandma) and drop a batch off at the local senior's home—or maybe the police station, fire station, or hospital. Retailers aren't the only ones working extra hard over the holiday season. 
• Shovel the neighbour's walk—or for someone else on my street. 
• Buy hot chocolate for the person behind me in the coffee shop line. 
• Take my sister ice skating. (If you saw how she skates, you'd know how kind of me this is!)
• Help my neighbour put up his Christmas lights. Obviously I won't be climbing on the roof or any ladders, but I can arrange the light-up snowmen and deer on the lawn!
• Smile! It sounds simple, but you'd be surprised what a genuine smile can do during this stressful time of year. 
• Volunteer to wrap presents for local seniors or maybe the children's wing at the hospital. 
• Leave a Christmas card for the mailman in the mail box. 
• Pick up trash at a park and throw it in the garbage.
• Donate some of extra toys, books, or clothes. 

Good list, right? Have things to add? Great—we can all brainstorm together and come up with the BEST list. Share your Random Acts of Holiday Kindness in the comments so we can keep the ideas coming.

Gotta Jet! I’m going to start on this list this weekend. See you next Friday!

~ Chase Superman Duffy